5 Kitchen Decorating Ideas on a Budget

Does your lip curl every time you walk into your kitchen and behold your outdated avocado appliances? Is your tiny cucina perfect for your needs -- except that you can never seem to find a mixing bowl, ladle or measuring cup when you need one? Do you adore your bright, airy kitchen but the little wooden bowl of fruit you placed on the island only makes it seem empty and sad? Or, maybe you've always been happy with the granite counters and stainless range in your apartment, but your girlfriend is jonesing to give the room a homier feel.

It costs around $35,000 on average to fully renovate a mid-sized kitchen, but a simple spruce up can cost as little as $500 [source: Trattner]. With a bit of creativity and a do-it-yourself mentality, you can easily transform your kitchen from outdated or unadorned into contemporary and well-appointed -- even on a budget. Here are five ideas to spruce up your scullery. First, we talk about choosing a theme.